Xiangyou (Sharon) Shen
Assistant Professor, Ph.D. Dr. Shen's research integrates two closely linked lines of work: 1) The assessment and activation of adult play/playfulness and their impact on human health and performance, and 2) study of leisure as a critical context and mechanism for wellness and fulfillment. Her work has examined topics including serious/casual leisure, leisure constraints, human dimensions of natural resources, and methodological issues involving psychometrics, social media data biases, and cultural sensitivity and validity. She currently leads interdisciplinary programs that promote social-ecological well-being through integrating nature play, health interventions, and place-based experiential learning. Dr. Shen teaches courses in nature and human health, data analysis in social sciences, and recreation resource management. Her Teaching e-Portfolio provides more details about her educational philosophy and practices. |
Kelly Lynn Hoke
PhD Student / Researcher Kelly is a doctoral student in the Environmental Sciences program at Oregon State University. Her research interests include nature-based family and childhood leisure experiences, outdoor play spaces, and the exploration of human-nature relationships, including how humans (individually and collectively) define and value nature, and the sense of belonging to place. Kelly received her MS in Human Development and Family Studies, OSU, and her thesis explored early childhood playground environments and impacts on physical activity. Kelly’s current work focuses on play in informal learning environments. As a researcher at the STEM Research Center at OSU, she leads the NSF-funded interPLAY project. |
Leland Masek
PhD Student / Professional Game Designer Leland is a doctoral student at the Department of Information Sciences and Interactive Media, and the Centre of Excellence in Game Culture Studies at Tampere University (Finland). His research is focused on playfulness across disciplines and cultures as it relates to mental health. He has conducted work in experimental game design and childhood development, including designing the largest youth mega-game in the United States in 2018, and creating This is When We Rest, the second live action role playing game to be produced on Broadway. He is part of the Playful Parent project at the HEAL Lab. |
Lydia Gorrell
Faculty Research Assistant Lydia's research interests focus on risk-taking in children's play, the impact of green spaces on physical/mental health, and implications for environmental education. She received her MS in Forest Ecosystems and Society from OSU, concentrating in health behavior and nature-based recreation among youth. Lydia also has a background in biology and ecology, as well as five years of experience in children's outdoor education. Lydia contributes to the Play2Cope project examining children's outdoor play and emotional well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic. She is also a key member of the JOFN curriculum development team. |
Zoe Crawley
Researcher Zoe received her MS in Quantitative Methods and BS in Cognitive Studies from Vanderbilt University's Department of Psychology and Human Development. Her research interests include outdoor education, mindfulness, and nature-based interventions. Zoe's past work included music-based mindfulness interventions for parents at the Music Cognition Lab. She is part of the Play2Cope project, conducting quantitative modeling of playfulness as a protective factor during stressful events. Outside academia, Zoe enjoys exploring the outdoors with her partner Erin and their pitbull Emmylou. |
OSU
|
Kaitlyn Scanlon
Undergraduate Student Kaitlyn is a sophomore at Oregon State University pursuing her honors bachelor’s degree in Natural Resources. Her main research interest focuses on the effect of nature play and experiential learning on youth environmental efficacy, cognitive learning, and nature connections in climate change education. Kaitlyn is assisting JOFN project as part of her URSA engagement and Honors thesis research. |
Affiliated Students
OSU / LinkedIn
|
Nazlı Özkoca
PhD Student Nazli is a PhD student in Kinesiology with a psychosocial concentration. She has a bachelor's degree in Psychology from Middle East Technical University. Her main research interests include developmental sports and exercise psychology and positive youth development. |
OSU / LinkedIn
|
Sara King
PhD Student Sara is a PhD student in in Human Development and Family Sciences, College of Health. She has a Master's degree in Psychology from West Chester University of Pennsylvania and a bachelor's degree in Psychology and Art Therapy from Springfield College. Her main research interests include child and adolescent development and quantitative methodology. |
HEAL Alumni
PSU / LinkedIn
|
Colby Parkinson
PhD Student Colby's research interests revolve around the environmental services provided by green spaces and wilderness, well-being outcomes associated with play and recreation, and environmental attitudes and behaviors as they relate to sustainability. Colby contributed to the Play2Cope project analyzing adaptive outdoor behavior and mental well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic. Colby is currently a PhD student in the Department of Recreation, Park and Tourism Management, Penn State University. He received his M.S. degree in Forest Ecosystems and Society with a public health and outdoor recreation concentration from Oregon State University. |
OSU
|
Marieke Erin Dailey
Undergraduate Student Marieke is curious about ways to build hope and agency in others in regards to the way they think about the future of society and their role in creating it. Previously, Marieke performed as an acrobat and aerialist and continues to work as a circus coach. With a background in circus and an understanding of the importance of play and vulnerability, Marieke contributed to the Playful Parent and JOFN project by helping designing educational materials, intervention activities, and experiential learning curriculum. |
OSU
|
Kyra Thompson
Undergraduate Student Kyra is interested in environmental factors, including parental engagement in child's play and exploration, that foster childhood development toward becoming a well-adjusted, happy, and confident adult regardless of socioeconomic status. With a background in counseling and human development from Mount Hood Community College, Kyra contributed to the Playful Parent project by assisting with the intervention implementation and assessment. |
OSU
|
Madison Kirkwood
Undergraduate Student Madison has a bachelor’s degree in Sociology from University of California at Berkeley. Madison's research interests include the differential outcomes of human health as a function of relationship with nature. She contributed to the Play2Cope project by conducting literature research on pandemic leisure engagement as part of her engagement in OSU's Undergraduate Research, Scholarship and the Arts (URSA) Engage Program. |
OSU
|
Breanna Sisneros
Undergraduate Student Breanna has a B.S. in Psychology from the University of New Mexico and experiences providing ABA therapy to children and adolescents. Breanna’s research interests focus on behavioral health as it intersects with nature and conservation. Breanna was part of the Playful Parent and JOFN projects |